African American Proverbs In Context

A groundbreaking study of proverbs in African-American speech from slave times to the present.

Such sayings as "Hard times make a monkey eat red pepper when he don't care for black", "The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice", and "Nothing ruins a duck but its bill" convey not only axiomatic impact but also profound contextual meanings. This study of African-American proverbs is the first to probe deeply into these meanings and contexts. Sw. Anand Prahlad's interest in proverbs dates back to his own childhood in rural Virginia when he listened to his great-grandmother's stories. Very early he began collecting "sayings". In researching this book, he spent five years listening for proverbs spoken in bars, clubs, churches, and retirement homes; on street corners, basketball courts, and public buses; at PTA meetings and bingo games. To discover the full context of a proverb, Prahlad considers four levels of meanings - grammatical, cultural, situational, and symbolic. All these operate simultaneously when a proverb is spoken. Part of the artistry in using proverbs comes from the complex interplay of the dimensions of their meanings. From WPA interviews with former slaves, from the lyrics of blues songs, from extensive field research, and from expressions of protest and cultural affirmation, the author reveals the myriad ways African-American proverbs thrive today.

As The Old Folks Usta' Say... records the proverbs, sayings and folk-wit from the rich oral tradition of African-American history. In over 250 hilarious, wise and witty one-liners, the voices of old-school wisdom come to life on these pages. A welcome change from African proverbs, these sayings are exclusively from the American experience, Ebonics and all! You'll laugh, you may even cry, as you remember the guiding words of your parents or grandparents. You'll be touched with pride in your heritage. You'll learn some witty and concise responses to say to your children. As they remember and repeat them to their children, your words will become a cherished memory. Los Angeles, California -- Is it ever correct to use Ebonics? Will recognition of Ebonics by the educational established condemn an entire generation of African-American students to failure? Heated debate and controversy continue as a key factor is often overlooked: context. Ebonics, in proper context, is a valid and relevant form of language in the classroom and beyond. Ebonics is not just street slang with fractures of the verb To Be. Past generations of African-Americans who lacked formal education developed a unique, emphatic dialect which they used to express themselves eloquently, often in proverbs and sayings which endure to this day. In As The Old Folks Usta' Say... Black Proverbs, Sayings and Folk-wit, Ebonics occurs in a natural context. Readers will develop a new appreciation and respect for its power to communicate. Each generation in the family will enjoy the over 250 hilarious, wise and witty adages. Devoted exclusively to African-American oral literature, this book is a refreshing change from run-of-the-millethnic proverbs. Parents, teachers, preachers and other speakers will welcome this new resource for life lessons from the old school.

Words of wisdom deeply rooted in truth and experience have long been a staple in Black culture, speech, and dialogue. Whether spoken with love from a grandparent, delivered with passion by a pastor in a pulpit, or offered from knowing stranger with hair peppered with grey, there are certain phrases that have been cited and shared time and time again within the Black community. This book highlights just fifteen African-American proverbs, though countless more exist. Like the elders who use them, they offer lessons in guidance and grace to all those who are willing to listen and learn.

African American folklore dates back 240 years and has had a significant impact on American culture from the slavery period to the modern day. This encyclopedia provides accessible entries on key elements of this long history, including folklore originally derived from African cultures that have survived here and those that originated in the United States. Inspired by the author's passion for African American culture and vernacular traditions, African American Folklore: An Encyclopedia for Students thoroughly addresses key elements and motifs in black American folklore-especially those that have influenced American culture. With its alphabetically organized entries that cover a wide range of subjects from the word "conjure" to the dance style of "twerking," this book provides readers with a deeper comprehension of American culture through a greater understanding of the contributions of African American culture and black folk traditions. This book will be useful to general readers as well as students or researchers whose interests include African American culture and folklore or American culture. It offers insight into the histories of African American folklore motifs, their importance within African American groups, and their relevance to the evolution of American culture. The work also provides original materials, such as excepts from folktales and folksongs, and a comprehensive compilation of sources for further research that includes bibliographical citations as well as lists of websites and cultural centers.

Dictionary of Authentic American Proverbs offers a comprehensive reference guide for distinctly American proverbs. Compiled by Wolfgang Mieder, a key figure in the field of proverb studies, this compendium features nearly 1,500 proverbs with American origins, spanning the 17th century to present day, including a scholarly introduction exploring the history of proverbs in America, the structure and variants of these proverbs, known authors and sources, and cultural values expressed in these proverbs. Along with a comprehensive bibliography of proverb collections and interpretive scholarship, this dictionary offers a glimpse into the history of American social and cultural attitudes through uniquely American language.

This study represents the first comprehensive treatise of American proverbs, each chapter including an interpretative essay, a special bibliography, and numerous texts in contexts. The fifteen chapters deal with the proverb in general, American proverbs in particular, proverbs of the immigrants, proverbs current in the various states, proverbs of the Native Americans, Afro-American proverbs, Benjamin Franklin's «proverbs», proverbs in prose literature, proverb poems, proverbs in popular songs, wellerisms, proverbs in comics and cartoons, proverbs in advertisements, and a special final chapter on the modern American proverb «Different strokes for different folks». A large bibliography, three indices, and forty illustrations are included.